RACING & TROTTING

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19796, 11 May 1934, Page 14

RACING & TROTTING

On and Off the Track A BUDGET OF NEWS AND VIEWS FIXTURES Racing: . May 12—Wanganui J.C. May 11, 12—Southland R.C. May 19—Rangitikei R.C. May 19—Ashburton C.R.C. May 19, 21—Te Kuiti R.C. May 26—South Canterbury J.C. June 2,4, s—Dunedin5 —Dunedin J.C. June 2,4, 6 —Auckland R.C. June 2, 4—Otaki Maori R.C. Trotting: May 12 —Oamaru T.C. May 12—Waikato T.C. May 14—Rotorua T.C. June 2, 4—Canterbury Park T.C. June 2, 4—Hawke’s Bay T.C. June 9—Ashburton T.C. June,2o, 23—Auckland T.C. The Southland winter meeting opens to-day. R. Beale, who sustained an injury by a fall off Quinopal at Otautau, will be riding again at Invercargill. R. Dunn. who until recently was training Mr C. P. Cameron’s pacers at Halswell, is now acting as private trainer for Mr P. Watson, owner of Travis Axworthy. The Century Hurdles at Wanganui used to be run over 2} miles, but the present distance of 12 miles is more suitable for the beginning of the jumping season. The Kaikoura Trotting Club sustained a substantial loss on its recent meeting, and its prospects of carrying on are not bright. A proo:sal has been made that it should am ilgamate with Cheviot. Only seven horses were nominated for the mile hack race on the first day of the Southland meeting. This is not easy to explain, when it is noted that there are sixteen entries for a similar race on the second day. The Cromwell Jockey Club has not so far applied for dates for next season, and there seems to be a possibility of the meeting being allowed to lapse. The Waikouaiti Club is anxious to secure an extra day, and if Cromwell goes out its desire may be gratified. Last year there were only four starters in the Southland Steeplechase and only two in the Ritchie Memorial Steeplechase on the second day of the meeting. Prospects are brighter this year, as there are eleven acceptors for the Southland Steeplechase. Water Power has two engagements at Invercargill to-day—the Flying and the Tradesmen’s. As the first is at six furlongs, and the races are the third and eight on the card, the Washdyke mare may start twice if the track suits her, as it is likely to do.

Pahu, who is acclaimed to have been a particularly unlucky hurdler, is expected to figure prominently this winter. He is by Warplane, a son of Martian, and should stay on that account. His dam, Cinnamon, brings added reference as a jumper. She is by Sarto, the sire of many good jumpers, out of Canella, the dam of the Wellington Steeplechase winner, Birkinella.

Palermo was allowed to drop out of the Flying Handicap at Invercargill, but is an acceptor for the Southland Cup. The speedy Gore-trained gelding has some good sprinting form in the past, but he is, an unknown quantity over middle distances. Still he is by Solferino, and if he does not pull in the early stages his light w r eight may assist him to see out most of the trip.

R. Inkson, Australia’s leading crosscountry jockey, who was severely injured at Flemington last August, has been granted permission by the surgeon to the Victoria Racing Club to school horses over hurdles, and last week he made a start by schooling his old favourite Redditch. Redditch has not started in a race since he came to grief with Inkson in the August Steeplechase.

So much publicity, much of its due to the weather, was given to the match race at Forbury Park that it has been over-looked that the Oamaru Club offers a greater attraction on Saturday in Harold Logan. Walla Walla, Ror l’Or, and Red Shadow. A contest confined to two horses is apt to be spoiled if one fails to begin properly, or if one is off colour on the day, whereas with four champions in action the risk of a fiasco is not nearly so great.

Australian stipendiary stewards do not vent all their displeasure on the small fry among jockeys and trainers. Darby Munro, who was suspended last week in Sydney, is one of the best riders in New South Wales. At one time it was alleged that social or commercial eminence of owners protected the jockeys and trainers they employed, but that day seems to have gone. Australian stipendiaries who are invested with too much power, make mistakes, but they seem to make them without fear or favour.

At the end of every season, the leading English liandicapper compiles weights for a Free Handicap, to be run by three-year-olds at the commencement of the next racing year. The handicap is based on two-year-old form, and naturally there are often striking reversals. This season the Free Handicap figures have worked out well, as Colombo, top-weight in it, has won the Two Thousand Guineas, and Campanula, rated as the best of the fillies, accounted for the One Thousand.

A Christchurch paper propounds a centralisation scheme that would eliminate the majority of existing New Zealand racing clubs. Among those which it is suggested should be guillotined are thirteen of the nineteen in Auckland district, as well as Wanganui; and, in the South Island, Geraldine, Waimate, Waikouaiti, Wyndham, Winton, Kurow, and many others. There may be too many clubs in some territories, but a cure will be effected by economic treatment. There is no need for official action, and to suggest that thriving clubs like Waikouaiti, Wyndham and Geraldine should be sent to the block is strange. Points which appear to be overlooked by the advocates of centralisation is that the minor meetings act as feeders for the larger ones, and that if there were no small meetings there would soon be a shortage of horses. Another thing that many city people do not realise is the part that a country race meeting can play in the social life of a wayback community. If a country village can make a meeting pay it should be allowed to carry on.